colonial america

1910What is the tallest all-granite structure in the United States?

The Pilgrim Monument, towering over Provincetown, Massachusetts, stands as the tallest all-granite structure in the United States. Built between 1907 and 1910, it commemorates the historic first landing of the 'Mayflower' Pilgrims in Provincetown Harbor on November 21, 1620, and the signing of the Mayflower Compact—a cornerstone event in American democracy. The 252-foot, 7.5-inch tower, inspired by Siena’s Torre del Mangia, was dedicated on August 5, 1910, in a grand ceremony attended by President William Howard Taft. Unique among American monuments, its construction was subject to rigorous specifications, including using only granite from Stonington, Maine, and the foundation alone was completed in just 49 days.

1735Why is the tomb of U.S. President John Adams draped with a flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes?

The tomb of U.S. President John Adams in Quincy, Massachusetts, is draped with a flag bearing 15 stars and 15 stripes—a design that was official during his presidency from 1797 to 1801. This flag commemorates the era when two new states, Vermont and Kentucky, joined the original thirteen, temporarily changing the nation’s flag. An annual presidential wreath-laying ceremony, a tradition begun under President Lyndon Johnson, continues to honor Adams’ enduring legacy, including the upcoming 291st anniversary of his birth on October 30, 2026.